August 2, 2019 – Guyana Times International

Concerns raised over ‘huge influx’ of Haitians

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…Jagdeo calls for probe into immigration, general registration offices Reports of over 8000 Haitian immigrants entering Guyana for the year thus far, but only a handful of them leaving, and concerns relating to alleged collusion between key agencies have prompted calls by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for investigations into the agencies responsible. According to Jagdeo during his weekly press briefing on Wednesday, his party has, for some time now expressing concerns over the large influx of Haitian immigrants. He alleged that the surge of immigrants and the ongoing House-to-House registration…

‘Elections Now’

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Pressure mounts on APNU/AFC Govt to step down, call date for elections Scores of supporters of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) have organised yet another protest, calling on the Coalition Government to resign and for President David Granger to announce a date for elections. The protest, conducted outside of the Ministry of the Presidency, attracted a number of supporters, decked in red, waving placards, and demanding that elections be held in keeping with the Guyana Constitution and the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Only last week,…

Former New York Knicks player to visit Guyana

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Former NBA New York Knicks player Anthony Bonner, aka “The Big Man from St Louis”, will be in Guyana this August for the second free Youth Hoops Basketball Guyana Clinic, organised by Green Mango Media in partnership with the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA). Bonner will, from August 6th to 8th, host training sessions in Regions 4 and 10 with Xperience Outreach (USA) founder and youth coach Rich Mahler. Young people between the ages of 11 and 19 are invited to participate. “We are excited that Anthony Bonner agreed to…

High energy costs, poor infrastructure driving away investors from Guyana – US official

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The new Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the United States Embassy to Guyana, Mark Cullinane, on Monday said that Guyana’s high energy costs, coupled with lack of transparency and security concerns, are deterring investors from coming to Guyana. Cullinane made the statements during a welcoming reception hosted by the American Chambers of Commerce (AmCham) at the Marriott Hotel as he commenced his new position in Guyana. According to Cullinane, “Guyana currently stands at 134 out of 190 countries in the 2018 World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report. Highlighting…

African culture in today’s society

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

African culture, also known as Black culture, refers to the cultural contributions of Africans to the culture of their country, either as part of or distinct from that country’s culture. The distinct identity of African culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African people, including the Middle Passage. African culture for Guyanese is rooted in West and Central Africa, understanding its identity in the anthropological sense, conscious of its origins as largely a blend of West and Central African cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Africans…

The buck stops with…

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…the President on elections It’s so pathetic that the Caretaker President of this country David Granger, would hide (now literally) under the skirts of GECOM to evade his constitutional duty to announce a date for elections. Does he even remember the oath he took on his Bible when he was sworn in as President? No matter how much he bobs and weaves he cannot get away from the clear declaration of the Constitution of this country. There, Art 61 – explicitly labelled “Time for elections” – declares: “An election of…

The significance of our emancipation memorials

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Kizzy Coleman Emancipation day is observed annually in Guyana to memorialise the ending of slavery of the African people and celebrate their freedom from servitude. August, 1, 1838 was one of the most important days of the country’s history: it brought an end to a European institution deliberately designed to acquire wealth from the “sweat” of Africans through forced labour. But on August 1. 1838, the people forced into enslavement were finally freed from anguish and poverty and were free to live – to really live. However, being free…

‘From Cuffy to Critchlow: Fighters for Political Emancipation’

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Hazel Woolford On February 23, 1763, Cuffy led a revolution that shook this hemisphere. It undeniably contributed to the outbreak of the Haitian Revolution and the French Revolution. Cuffy was the first African Guyanese slave to attempt to establish a Republic. He gained control of the colony and ruled Berbice for over a year. His attempts at social cohesion or unity of the Dutch and Africans in the fledgling black republic failed. Cuffy was a high achiever. He succeeded in communicating with the Dutch, with the assistance of white…

US firm honours Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary’s top NGSA achievers

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The top ten performers at the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) of the Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School were on Friday honoured by US consulting firm in Guyana; Keen360. This recognition was made possible through Keen360’s ‘Scholarship Programme’— which extended cash grants as well as trophies. In addition, the students were treated to a full day of activities, which included a field trip to the Botanical Gardens and the zoo, with a relaxing lunch afterward. In their continued bid to improve the school’s learning environment, the US-based firm also provided paint…

Fate of Berbice Cop accused of falsifying evidence to be decided soon

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The fate of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) rank at the Reliance Police Station, Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who was arrested on Saturday after a series of damning reports of corrupt activities including falsifying evidence, is soon to be determined. According to the police, investigations were conducted last week into the claims by several persons that the cop had been “planting evidence” at various locations and forcing innocent persons to pay him monies to avoid arrest. A file has been compiled on these matters and has been dispatched…